The one-year suspension handed to Żabbar St Patrick U17 player Jaden Buckland after the abandoned match against Naxxar Lions has already drawn strong attention, but another aspect of the case is now raising fresh questions.
Beyond the sanctions themselves, Malta Sport can reveal that the report obtained by this newsroom is drafted in flawless Maltese, despite the listed match referee being a foreign national, Moustafa Ahmed Moh Nabawey. In a case of such seriousness, that detail is bound to prompt questions about how exactly the report was compiled.
The Malta FA Disciplinary Commissioner on Tuesday handed Buckland a one-year ban following the incidents which brought Sunday’s U17 clash at Dingli Ground to a premature end. Naxxar Lions player Hani Ezzedden Saih was handed a three-match suspension, while Jamie Azzopardi received a one-match ban after being sent off for two yellow cards. Jake Pace and club official Etienne Vella were also fined. The decisions remain subject to appeal.
The match was abandoned after a mass confrontation broke out in the 90+2 minute involving players from both sides. According to the report seen by Malta Sport, several players began arguing and pushing each other before the situation escalated further.
The report states that Naxxar player Hani Ezzedden Saih ran in from a considerable distance and, aggressively and violently, punched Żabbar player Jaden Buckland in the face, causing injuries. It further states that moments later, Buckland reacted by punching Naxxar player Kole Mangion, who at that moment was allegedly trying to calm the situation and stop other players from continuing to fight.
The same report says that after the blow, Mangion fell to the ground, appeared to lose consciousness, and was seen bleeding from the nose. He was given first aid by a nurse present at the ground as well as by Clayton Pisani, who was acting as mentor for the match. The player reportedly remained unconscious until an ambulance arrived, before being taken to the hospital for further treatment.
The report also notes that while the player was receiving treatment, his father entered the field of play but was restrained by persons present, with no further incident observed. It adds that, although some stoppage time remained to be played, both teams were no longer in a suitable condition to continue. The match was therefore not resumed following discussions involving officials from both clubs and the match mentor. Police officers also arrived on site.
While the seriousness of the incidents is not in doubt, the wording of the report is likely to become a major talking point. Malta Sport has analysed the document that is written in flawless Maltese, despite the referee for the match being a foreign official. That reality naturally raises questions as to whether the report was written directly by the referee, translated on his behalf, or prepared with some form of assistance.
In itself, that does not prove any wrongdoing or irregularity. There may be a perfectly valid explanation. But in a youth match that ended in violence, required medical treatment, police presence, and has now led to lengthy suspensions, transparency over the process becomes crucial.
The Malta FA, in a statement issued after the disciplinary outcome, reiterated that it strongly condemns all forms of violence, altercation, and unsporting behaviour on or around the field of play, stressing that such conduct goes against the values of football, including respect, discipline, and fair play, particularly within youth football.
That position is clear. But beyond the punishments, this case may now also invite scrutiny over procedure.
Because when sanctions of this scale are issued after such a serious incident, every aspect of the process, including the compilation of the decisive report, must be beyond reproach.
